index," "american idol" judge randy jackson after 12 years on the show with countless auditions, performances and lots of drama involving the judges themselves, jackson has announced he is moving on. Abc's bianna golodryga has the story. So, yo, dog. Reporter: He is the tail that wags the dog. Randy jackson, one of the original cast members of "american idol," a fixture seated on the judges' panel for 12 years. You are who you are and we love it. Reporter: So when the longest tenured judge announced his departure from "american's" stage rumors ran rampant. You were not forced out? No. Reporter: We caught up with HIM AT the MacDill air force base where he's meeting the troops and donating guitars from his home shopping network guitar collection. Without you guy, this wouldn't be the great country we call america that we so love. Can I get an amen. I mean I think, you know, a bit of what I've done on "idol" is that same sort of love, inspiring people. ReporteCH BEGS THE Question, why give it up now? Well, I don't think it's a why give it up now. I just think that, you know, I've been through a lot of iterations of the show. If you think back 12 seasons ago when it was you, paula, simon, did you ever think that that sort of bond and chemistry was possible on television. We got so lucky. Anybody that says they knew that the show was going to be a hit, knew we would jell together, nobody knew. We hit the jackpot. Do you regret the group being disbanded in a way, that initial group? It was definitely a little hard to take because we rode to the dance together and we made the dance what the dance is. Okay, we need some juice. Paula and simon? Anything there aside from -- anything happen? You must be getting ready for the book I'm planning to write. Look, I think paula and simon, there never any there but we often had fun but it was almost like I call "idol" "romper room" for ad Reporter: It was that early romp that helped make it the most watched show on television week after week but in recent seasons "idol" has seen its ratings drop by double digits, over jackson's 12-year span he shared the panel with a total of nine different judges. And I really have always felt that people made too much of the judges and not enough of the talent. Reporter: But is it really over for the dog? Dog. Yes. You did it. I did it. Are you going to miss it. Yeah, I may miss it a bit but I may be on some other shows. You never know. Reporter: For "good morning america," bianna golodryga, abc news, tampa. I have to tell you losing the last original "idol" judge is going to be a tough blow for the show. He's always been such a nice guy, a real gentleman through this.

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